Our Referral-versary

One year ago today we saw the faces of the two most beautiful boys in the world.

In fact, they were halfway across the world.  Three months old, and just 8ish pounds each.

They hardly had any hair, and Welde (Kyrie) had pink eye.  They were probably scared out of their minds at a new place and they had no idea we even existed.

And we were in love.

This was our referral picture.  The first picture we saw of our little sweeties.
Weldemichael and Paulos  

Welde (Kyrie) protecting his brother.  Notice the poor little guy's pink eye :(
And don't worry.  Those skinny little legs are a thing of the past.

The diapers are too big for these teeny tiny peanuts!!  But aren't they so cute holding hands?
(Kyrie on left, Kingston on right.)

We laid in bed every night giggling and talking about how our life would change (and we had NO idea.   Seriously. No idea.)

We talked about our boys.  OUR boys. (EEEE!) About our Paulos and Welde.  Our perfect little baldy bundles.  We guessed about their personalities.  Dreamed about their smiles.

I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this time was in our lives.  And it was nothing...nothing compared to our lives now.

Every day is a ridiculous blessing.  I thank God a hundred times a day for these boys.  They are perfect.  Created in God's image.  Beautiful in every way.  And worth every second of the wait.  Every. Single. Second.

The journey was hard, and long, and discouraging at times.  And none of that matters one single little bit.  I'd do it all over again in a nanosecond for these boys.

Lets be real.  I'd do ANYTHING for these boys.

Anything.

And now - I'm thanking God that one year ago today, he showed me the little blessings that are my sons.  My loves.  My life.

The serious pose...

Sorry about the blur...  but seriously?  The ties?

Kyrie is giving his "blue steel" look here.

Laughter.  Love it. 

Happy Referral Day, my loves.

So much has changed in the last year.  And I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next year of our beautiful lives.

My Babies Own Me

He hangs onto my legs, skirt, pants any time I'm in the kitchen.  Follows my every move.  Looks up with his hands raised and goes, "uh, uh, uh...."  He wants me to pick him up.  So I do, and I stir with one hand and put away with one hand and wipe down with one hand.  Then I need two hands so I go to put him down, but his legs hike up and he twists his face to a pout and back in my arms he is.  Dinner can wait.  Its that moment I know he owns me.

My Kyrie boy

He runs full speed ahead arms out.  He collapses into my arms where I'm sitting on the floor in a fit of giggles, and looks up at me with his puckered lips and tongue sticking out.  He wants a kiss.  He gets one.  Then another, and another and another.  He snuggles right into my neck and sighs.  I'm a goner.  This child owns me too.

My baby boy Kingston

My boys totally own me.  All the late nights, blow out diapers, inconsolable crying?

Forgotten.

Or at least insignificant.  Those things don't matter.

All that matters is boys that want to be held and snuggled and that I get to be the person to do it.

They're amazing.  The most amazing little people I know.  And I get to help mold them. And guide them.  And teach them.

I love them so, so much.  And I'm so sorry, but I just can't think of any topics to write about lately besides how much I love them and how awesome they are.  Its ridiculous how giddy with happiness they make me.

And I say it all the time.  And its so cliche.  But I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to be their mommy.

Luckiest.  Ever. 

He might be a Rapper one day

Kingston likes rap.

Seriously.  He loves it.

David's school makes a music video every year with the kids singing.  Its pretty cool, and always has an awesome message.  Our boys LOVE to watch them.   And this year there is a little boy who raps in the middle.  Every time that boy comes on the screen, Kingston lights up with a big smile.  He even gets a little shy and turns his head away, smiling.  Its so sweet!

And now our boys also have a favorite song.  I mean, sort of.  It doesn't have quite the same message, but don't judge :)  We just play it a lot on the TV because we have the video "on demand".  And Kingston likes the rap, and Kyrie claps and swings his arms in a "dancey" sort of way.

Aynway...

I took video of it because I think its cute.  Watch Kingston's face when the rap part comes on.  He loves it.  At then Kyrie rocks out for a sec.

So cute, right?

And you know what?  If Kingston is a rapper one day, then he can support my outrageous car preferences :)  Cadillac Escalade here I come!!  (Okay - that is not actually what I like.  Just seemed sort of rapper like.)

Happy Monday!

Mini Vans

I don't want a mini van.

I just really really don't.

And I'm not knocking all you amazing mini van driving moms.  I know you are amazing, and I know your mini van helps you in your awesomeness.

They are spectacular.  The automatic doors.  The bucket seats you can easily maneuver around.  The seating space for multiple children and friends.  The delightful DVD screens that flip down for child amusement and entertainment.  The storage in the back.  The rearview camera and GPS system and all the other bells and whistles.

I haven't met a mini van owner who doesn't swear by its glory.  Every mini van driving mom I know has told me that once I'm driving it, I'll be convinced.

But you know what?  I've driven a mini van.

And its just okay to me.

Just. Okay.

But what's more than that?  Deep down in my heart of hearts I just despise them.   They rank up there with mom jeans and pantyhose.  Like the moment I step into mini van ownership I will no longer be my hip 20-something self.   And it doesn't matter that I'm 30.   And also not hip.

Mini vans are just not my thing.

Occasionally David will start a conversation with, "Now I know you don't want a mini van.  And I'm not trying to talk you into one.  But..."

And that is when I know that he is trying to talk me into one.

The thing is we're not really even car shopping right now. But we have twin boys.  So if we are blessed with anymore children one day, we are going to need a different mode of transportation.

And unfortunately, every non mini van third row seating option that I love?  Not so much in our price range.   Apparently when it comes to cars I have the taste of a six figure rapper rollin' on some sweet rims.

Or something.

I just can't find the perfect (affordable) option.  Hopefully if and when baby number 3 enters our lives we have this thing figured out.  And hopefully that doesn't mean mini van.

What do you drive?  And do you love it?

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today I am feeling very blessed.

So. Very. Blessed.

I got to spend some time at the park with my sweet family of four, and my extended family on my dad's side.

Because today is my grandfather's birthday.  And although he is not here to celebrate with us, it is a life we celebrate as often as we can.

My aunt is a school social worker, and she said to me today, "Don't you just LOVE your summer off?"

And she didn't mean because we work at schools, and we don't have to work for the next couple months.  Or that we get to be in the sun all day long with no alarm clock in the morning, and no work to do after the kids go to bed, and time to read books and laugh and love.

That is all good stuff.

But she meant because I get to be with my boys ALL. DAY. LONG.

And its amazing.  I treasure and value these boys so very much each and every day.  But getting to be with them all summer…  Well…

This is the best time of my life.

These are the days I will look back on and say, "where did the time go?" and "remember when the boys just learned to walk and were EVERYWHERE?" and "it seems like only yesterday…"

Ky, loungin' in the laundry

 I just can't believe this is my life.  I am so blessed.

Let me tell you about some of the joy in my life :)

My boys wake up so very happy.  But the best part is the moment I walk through their bedroom door.  I stand outside their room for a minute and listen to them play and babble across the room to each other.  Then I sneak in.  The second they see me they start to squeal and clap and laugh and reach for me.  The smile on their faces is worth a million dollars and melts this mama's heart.  Its such a great way to start my day.

Kingston, laughing his sweet face off

Of course I hate that they cry when they wake up from a nap, but once I go in and scoop them up, they just want to cuddle.  Like forever.  Kyrie will sometimes fall back asleep for a little while.  Kingston will look at me for a kiss and then snuggle back on my shoulder.  They just want to be held and loved on.  And I know this won't last forever, so I absolutely treasure it.

Kingston having snuggle time with Daddy

Kyrie waking up by Mommy

Kyrie, too tired to move

Another favorite? We have a mini pool.  Its very mini, but the boys love it.  I love it too because it heats up fast.  They can get themselves in and out of it, and love to play with the little cups.  This silly little pool brings them so much happiness.  They squeal and laugh and splash and have the time of their lives in that pool, and so do I :)

Splashing :)

Chillin' out

Dave always wished for naughty children.  He's weird like that.  But so far he's gotten his wish in all the adorable little ways.  If the boys find something they KNOW I don't let them play with - like my phone - they pick it up and wait for me to see them.  They hold it in the air, and once I see them, they laugh hysterically and run away.  If they find something tiny that I for sure don't want in their mouth, they DO NOT put it in their mouth until they are sure I am looking. Its a friendly little service they throw in for me.  They literally hold it near their mouth with a smile on their face until I see them.  THEN it goes in.  And of course, any time I say NO in my I mean it, I'm your mom and I am so very serious voice, they just laugh at me.  Like a deep belly laugh.

Hello there!  

There are so many more things.  Kyrie will smash food in his hand that he doesn't want.  He'll throw it and scream.  Its very funny.  He'll even "yell" at me when I put something on his tray he doesn't want to eat.  They recently started really fighting over toys.  Its ridiculous.  Kyrie will cry if he thinks Kingston is going to take his toy.  Kyrie is also in a "mommy" stage.  He wants to be held my me All. The. Time.  And if I try to put him down he does the whole my body is limp and I will pull my legs up to my booty and lean my head way back so there is absolutely no way you can put me down and still be a good mother thing.  He's such a weirdo.  And I love to hold him, so it works out.

Oh hi.  Want to play?

Kingston discovered there is water in the toilet.  If I don't check the bathroom right away (they are in there with me while I get ready for the day) his hands are splashing around in no time.

And they play peek-a-boo with the long hanging curtains.  Made this little trick up all by themselves.  Kyrie wraps himself up, then peeks out at Kingston, and they both laugh hysterically.  Its. Awesome.  I'll see if I can catch them on video for you fine people.

Kyrie kisses me by grabbing both sides of my face, licking everything between my nose and chin.  If you saw it you would think it was the drooliest, wettest kiss ever.  And you would think it was gross.  But I'm his mommy and I think its absolutely sweet.  Kingston comes at me for a kiss with his tongue out.  Its an open mouthed lick.  Honestly, I don't know where they learn that because I always ask for a kiss with a pucker.  (Seriously people - Dave and I do NOT kiss by coming at each other or our children with our tongue out!)

This is getting a little long, and I'll NEVER run out of cute things to share.  So I'll stop here.

Motherhood is incredible.  But even more incredible?

My kids.